Why Should I Consider a Pre-Owned Chevy Silverado 1500?

There is a stigma around buying other people’s hand-me-downs, usually applied to soft goods like clothing or bedding. Appliances and tools generally don’t inherit the same negative connotations, but that doesn’t mean they’re infallible. Have you ever purchased something that had an underlying issue you weren’t aware of before you bought it? Any vehicle can have issues—whether it’s a Ford, Honda, Toyota, or even a Chevy—and these issues can often be beyond your control… but what is under your control is trust.

Trust between both parties is crucial for a successful investment. If you purchase a high-quality pre-owned vehicle—one built by a reputable manufacturer and provided by an equally reliable dealership—then you have a far smaller chance of running into issues. This is why it’s important to purchase a pre-owned vehicle from a trusted dealership, especially if you’re on the hunt for used Chevy trucks for sale.

And that leads us to our topic at hand: What are the upsides to purchasing a pre-owned Chevy Silverado 1500? This is one of the most easy-going pickup trucks on the market; it can maximize your workflow and make you more productive, both in a professional and personal sense. There’s obviously no end of reasons to buy a brand-new model, so what are the benefits of buying a used model? How does that affect the overall experience?

The Significance of the Silverado 1500

Think about it: How many different models do you see on the road on any given day? Sure, there are hundreds of duplicates, but you’re likely to see over a dozen unique types of vehicles in just your average grocery store parking lot, not to mention the whole drive there and back. What do all these vehicles have in common? Well, unless they’re somehow all the Chevy Silverado (or its chief competitor, the Ford F-150), then none of them are best-sellers.

For those who don’t follow automotive sales, the Silverado is the second-best-selling vehicle in the country and the best-selling vehicle for Chevrolet; it’s their pride and joy. Chevy has been a dominant truck manufacturer since the late 1910s, while the Silverado 1500 has been around since the late 1990s in its current form (after being preceded by the venerable C/K line of pickup trucks that had been a part of Chevy’s lineup for over 50 years).

This was at the turn of the 21st century, and the sales of pickup trucks weren’t slowing down. SUVs had begun to create a name for themselves—even Chevy released SUVs like the Tahoe and Trailblazer—but it was the Silverado that kept fans hooked on Chevy in the early 2000s, from its world-class powertrain engineering that Chevy is famous for, to its scalability, with three unique sizes available at the time of purchase. There’s no question that the Silverado deserves its praise, but what specifically are the advantages of buying one that’s pre-owned?

A Great Launching Pad

If you don’t pay close attention when buying a used car, you may miss out on features that newer models offer. But is it fair to assume that a used car is only being sold because the original owner wanted to upgrade? Not necessarily. Sure, drivers may trade in their old vehicles to buy a newer version, but that doesn’t mean you’re getting the crumbs of the automotive experience. So, when you buy a used Silverado, you can expect a vehicle that radiates quality, no matter its age.

For a real-world example, let’s look at the 2014 Silverado 1500. The 2014 Silverado is officially ten years old, but has performance aged? The 2014 Silverado comes standard with a 4.3L V6 engine that outputs 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. You can also get one of two V8 engines, including a 5.3L V8 engine that gets 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque and a 6.2L V8 engine with a four-wheel drivetrain (4WD). The 6.2L V8 engine in the 2014 Silverado outputs 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque and, with this powertrain, along with other variables like cab size and trailering packages, can achieve a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 lbs.

Because the 2014 Silverado is ten years old, the heaviest portion of its depreciation has already made its impact, dropping to a value far more affordable—but this is not indicative of a decline in quality. (Depreciation sees the most significant changes in the first five years, with your vehicle’s value slowly trickling down thereafter.) You can easily find a used Silverado from this generation, which was then succeeded by the current Silverado generation, launching with the 2019 Silverado 1500. However, the 2019 model isn’t the best one to purchase for efficient drivers because it only comes with a V8 engine—but the 2020 model is another story entirely.

This is about the time that 2020 models will start showing up on the used market, as the standard leases on that model year come to their end; if they’re leasing another vehicle with the same dealership, then their still-young trade-in will soon appear for sale on that dealership’s lot.

The 2020 Silverado is an incredible place to start if you want to save money while still getting a technologically-current pickup. If you’re purchasing a 2020 Silverado 1500, the standard powertrain might not tow as much as the 2019 model, but it can tow thousands more than the 2019 Silverado 1500 if configured right; and there are many variations of the 2020 Silverado 1500—even more than the latest model. Your 2020 Silverado can be fitted with a turbocharged I-4 or even a turbo-diesel I-6, or you can replace the standard V6 with updated versions of the 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines. The sky is the limit!

Why You Should Purchase a Pre-Owned Silverado 1500

Now we tackle the big question: Is buying a used Silverado a good idea? You may have guessed, but buying a used Silverado 1500 is not a good idea… because it’s a GREAT idea! The Chevy Silverado makes for a spectacular pre-owned truck, but why? At the end of the day, your vehicle is what you make of it—but when you purchase a Silverado 1500, you’re unleashing your ability to become a more spontaneous, adventurous, and generally more handy person with the right tool for the job. (Be prepared for family, friends, and acquaintances to start entreating you for favors.)

Not everyone has insider knowledge on automobiles, and often the only way to truly be convinced that a truck is worth buying is to hear other people tell you that. With the Silverado 1500, although we’re here to tell you that you’ll love the truck, you should take one for a test drive and see for yourself—it’s an experience that you’ll be glad you explored before you make your decision.

Once you’ve decided which car to buy, you’re obligated to lay in the bed you’ve made—unless, of course, you have an excellent trade-back program available through your dealership, like the one we have at Edwards Chevrolet. Buying a Silverado 1500 will change your life the day you buy it, and you likely won’t ever want to let it go, but in the same way that you found your pre-owned truck, you may repeat the cycle someday after finding another vehicle you like better. You may be in that spot now, and if that’s the case, come on down to Edwards Chevrolet 280, try a pre-owned on for size, and get yourself a gleaming battle-tested best-seller like the Silverado 1500.

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